Identification and documentation of accesses to a communication network

Abstract

The system includes a first database (DB 1 i ) that collects first data relating to the access of customers to networks which envisage authentication, authorisation and accounting (AAA) procedures. The system makes also use of a plurality of cache memories (CDN), organised according to a Content Delivery Network architecture. The Log files of the cache memories (CDN) involved defines a second database (DB 2 ) containing access data relating to the network access modalities from the users and to the relating content to which the users had access. A data acquisition block ( 1 ) interworks with the above cited databases, DB 1 i , DB 2 , so as to generate access documentation reports (R 1 , R 2 ,) capable of identifying the users having access to the network in a correlated way and to the network content they have accessed. A preferential application to the production of customised reports for Content Providers (CP.), Internet Service Provides (ISP) and/or users/clients (C).

1 . System for the identification and documentation of accesses to a data communication network, characterised in that it incorporates: 
 at least one database (DB 1   i ) for collecting first access data, identifying the users having access to the network;    a plurality of cache memories (CDN) organised according to a Content Delivery Network architecture, with associated respective Log Files, defining a second database (DB 2 ) directed to collect second access data identifying the access modalities to the network by said users and the network content to which said users have access;    a data acquisition block ( 1 ) capable of interacting with said first database (DB 1 ) and said second database (DB 2 ) and of correlating among them said first and said second access data, so as to generate documentation reports concerning the access to the network (R 1 , R 2 , . . . ) in order o identify the users accessing the network, the access modalities to the network by said users, and the network content to which said users have access.    
     
     
         2 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said at least one database (DB 1   i ) is so configured as to collect access data of users having access to the network through-an-authentication, authorisation and accounting (AAA) procedure.  
     
     
         3 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said at least one database (DB 1   i ) is so configured as to collect first data relating to the users selected within the group formed by: 
 IP address of the user,    connection start time    connection end time    registration data of the user    user's username    telephone number of the calling party    address.    
     
     
         4 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said at least one database (DB 1   i ) is served by a server of RADIUS type.  
     
     
         5 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said Log Files are so configured as to collect second data selected within the group formed by: 
 types of content of the access,    name of the requested object,    application protocol being used    IP address of the requesting party    Request time    Pause, rewind and forward actions.    
     
     
         6 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said data acquisition block ( 1 ) has associated a respective database (DBA) and in that said data acquisition block ( 1 ) introduces in real time into said associated database (DBA) the information contained as a text File in said Log Files of said cache memories (CDN)  
     
     
         7 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said cache memories (CON) are so configured as to send their own Log Files as text files via HTTP toward said data acquisition block ( 1 ).  
     
     
         8 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said acquisition block ( 1 ) is implemented through a respective web server that shares the disc with the work station on which there is installed a respective database (DBA) associated with said data acquisition block.  
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said data acquisition block ( 1 ) has associated a respective database (DBA) containing respective tables and in that said associated database (DBA) of said data acquisition block ( 1 ) interacts with said first database (DB 1 ) so as to supplement said tables through respective data derived from the tables of said first database (DB 1 )  
     
     
         10 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said data acquisition block ( 1 ) has associated a block for report generation ( 2 ), so configured s to generate said reports in HTML or XML format.  
     
     
         11 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said at least one database (DB 1   i ) identifies an Internet Service Provider.  
     
     
         12 . Method for the identification and documentation of accesses to a data communication network characterised by the steps of 
 identifying at least one data base (DB 1   i ) collecting first information associated to a user accessing the network;    identifying a second data base (DB 2 ) collecting second information associated to accesses by said user to at least me cache memory;    generating documentation reports concerning the access to the network (R 1 , R 2 , . . . ) by automatically correlating said first information with said second information.